The companies included Japan’s NYK Line and “K” Line and Chile’s CSAV, Xinhua cited the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) as saying.

After more than a year of investigations, authorities found the companies involved had exercised price manipulation for shipping vehicles and engineering machinery on major lines for at least four years, violating anti-monopoly laws.

The statement said the companies had reached agreements of “mutual non-aggression” and cooperated to jointly raise prices, adding they frequently communicated on bidding and price inquiries to control prices and divide territory.